Cal Football Spring Practice: Sonny Dykes Media Roundtable

With spring practices and the spring game now complete, California head coach Sonny Dykes met with the local media on Tuesday afternoon for an informal Q&A session.  After some light refreshments, the roundtable began with Sonny giving his overall thoughts on Spring football 2014:

"We’re certainly better," Dykes said. "We’re playing with more confidence and as a result we’re playing faster. Tackling was much better but it still has to improve. Our players feel good about the progress we made this spring."

re: overall thoughts on Spring practices: "We're certainly better ... attitude is better, work ethic is better, confidence is better ..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

"...[but] product on the field has to improve. Summer is going to be important for us..." "Summer and fall camp are going to be critical..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

The team remained relatively healthy following the completion of Spring practices.  The only "new" injuries this Spring were two sprained ankles - to Puka Lopa and Jordan Rigsbee.  Both players are expected to be healthy in time for summer and fall camp:

both Rigsbee & Lopa will be available for summer workouts and fall camp

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

With finals and the end of the semester quickly approaching, Sonny identified several emerging leaders - who will also motivate and help coordinate the team during the summer for (player-led) workouts and conditioning:

Dykes sees the emergence of leaders, such as offensive linemen Chris Borrayo and Steven Moore, running back Daniel Lasco, defensive end Brennan Scarlett and defensive back Stefan McClure, among others.

Sonny noted several players as team leaders (other than Goff): Borrayo, Lasco, Moore, Adcock, Treggs; Scarlett, Barton, McClure, Sebastian

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

re: Summer (player-led) workouts - will be important for "getting good at details" including working on timing between QB/C/WRs

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

Sonny also noted that Fall newcomers Darius White (CB), David Davis (DT), and Dom Granado (RT) - all JC transfers - will all compete at their respective positions, while incoming freshmen Tre Watson (RB) and Luke Rubenzer (QB) will also have opportunities to compete for playing time:

re: Fall 2014 newcomers - Sonny has told them: "Make sure you stay in shape & learn everything you can … because we want you to compete..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

also, backup QB competition will "carry over into the fall", but won't be limited to Hinder & Boehm - Rubenzer & Forrest will be in the mix

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

incoming 2014 freshman RB Tre Watson "has a lot of confidence ... he saw an opportunity to compete and earn playing time as a freshman ..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

but Lasco "is stronger and has shown alot more durability" this Spring, is "a lot better running downhill ... ran harder and more physical"

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

The offensive line - including the C & RT positions - is still in flux, and very dependent on the expected healthy return of Chris Adcock and Matt Cochran this summer:

additional comments re: OL - "all depends on health" especially C.Adcock and M.Cochran; "we need to be incredibly consistent with our snaps"

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

Coach Dykes added that a strong offensive line will be essential in having a productive running game:

on offense - "...we need to run downhill better, block better up front ... don't have negative plays, and methodically move chains..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

re: S&C - strength is "improved, especially on OL" (but OL strength does need more improvement); skill position [speed] numbers "are fine"

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

As for the defense, Sonny mentioned that the players - and staff - have progressed in new DC Art Kaufman's system:

on D - "pleased with effort, playing with more confidence & clarity, playing faster ... tackling is much better but still needs to improve"

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

"...the thing that I like most about Art is that he's a teacher. He's done a really good job teaching our coaches and players ..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

And when asked about the team's academics, Coach Dykes had good news:

re: team academics - "[Our guys are doing] Good, very good ... Don't anticipate that [any academic casualties] at all."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

"...it speaks alot about what guys are doing in the classroom, their character ... [and] it's a signal we're headed in a good direction..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

He also described positive changes in the team culture and overall mentality:

Sonny re: culture & mentality this Spring - "It's a different atmosphere now than last spring ... [still a ways to go] to get to where..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

"...I believe that's how you sustain a program: by having good people, creating a good culture, and guys playing hard for each other..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

Towards the end of the Q&A session, Coach Dykes was asked whether he has a specific win-loss record in mind as a goal for the upcoming season:

last Q re: W/L goal - he doesn't have a specific number "...There's not a number... What this team needs to do is continue to get better..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

"...[and] that kind of takes care of itself. Every week we have to get better. If you do that, you'll win games you're supposed to win..."

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014

Fall camp begins on August 3rd, with practices starting on August 4th:

also per Sonny: @CalFootball team will report to Fall Camp on August 3rd, and the first practice will be on August 4th. [HT @CalRivals]

— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) April 30, 2014